Wayland Police Officer Shoots, Kills Dog That Attacked Him

WAYLAND, MA — A Wayland police officer responding to a 911 hangup call Monday morning shot and killed a dog after the animal attacked him.

In a news release, Wayland police said the officer responded to the call from Concord Road around 11:20 a.m. While the police officer spoke to the homeowner, a pit bull mix ran out of the house and bit the police officer several times.

As the officer fled, the dog chased him and continued to attack.

"In response to the attack, and faced with immediate danger, the officer discharged his firearm, shooting and killing the dog," Wayland police said. "The dog’s owner was not nearby when the officer discharged the weapon."

The police officer was taken to the hospital and treated for "multiple bite wounds." Wayland police investigates whenever an officer fires their weapon in the line of duty, and the preliminary investigation found "the dog had a history and was previously the subject of prior complaints about aggressive behavior in Wayland."

“This is a very difficult and unfortunate situation,” Acting Chief Ed Burman said in a statement. “The safety of our officers and community members is of the utmost importance, and anytime an officer has to use force, we take it very seriously. We will investigate this incident to ensure we have the fullest possible understanding of what occurred.”